What is the best grocery store in the JC area?

Submitted by Alert-Ad4070 t3_102g823 in jerseycity

I moved here from Massachusetts and I was spoiled with affordable and high quality supermarkets. I haven’t quite found one that is both in Jersey City yet and I know the farmers market is on hold for winter. In your opinion, what’s the best supermarket in the area? I am more than happy to including Hoboken and Weehawken since they are close by.

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imaluckyduckie t1_j2t1lut wrote

99 Ranch

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Alert-Ad4070 OP t1_j2ue51y wrote

I just went here today based on this suggestion. Thank you.

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kokoromelody t1_j2up58g wrote

Their produce quality is A+ and reasonably priced. I also love just walking down the snack, ramen, and frozen food aisles to find something new to try.

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Hulk_Runs t1_j2tpkmv wrote

Here’s an insider tip no one talks about here that’s great if you can drive: the Acme near Newport. Rarely packed, super clean, no riff raff, and reasonably priced.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j2trovp wrote

I wouldn’t say reasonably priced. It’s on the pricy side.

Also thanks to minimal foot traffic some of its goods are on the shelves a bit too long.

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kjrst9 t1_j2xecn3 wrote

Acme has significantly higher prices than Target or ShopRite, to be fair.

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Hulk_Runs t1_j2y8k3x wrote

Overall that’s probably right but Depends one what you’re looking for. I’ve never food shopped at Target but we bounce between BJs, ShopRite, 99 Ranch and Acme. Each has things they’re best at, some more than others. But paying a little more at Acme to avoid the circus is worth it to many.

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kjrst9 t1_j2y9w68 wrote

Occasionally there is something at Acme that ShopRite or Target don't have, that is certainly true. I find a good way to find that odd item (and/or comparison shop) is on Instacart. You can search for your item and see who carries it at what price. Of course everyone is going to carry some things (Rice Krispies, Colgate, etc.) and you can just compare prices), but for hard-to-find things it's a real time saver. Interestingly, I was recently shopping for a very specific jelly and the only store in the area carrying it was Key Food!

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Ainsel72l t1_j2wxmfe wrote

What - they're out of Riff Raff? Maybe it's a supply chain thing. Perhaps some Hoi Polloi will work instead.

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Hulk_Runs t1_j2y8rt3 wrote

No one is threatening to assault you in the parking lot because they couldn’t help you with your bags and press you for money.

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Ainsel72l t1_j2ya8mw wrote

That's the parking lot though, not inside the store which is what I thought you meant. I don't like that either.

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Hulk_Runs t1_j2z1cdg wrote

Yea…there’s riff raff there too. Seen a couple checkout line scuffles.

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electrobruv t1_j2tfgmf wrote

Trader Joe’s in Hoboken

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danm888 t1_j2twt0p wrote

This, 1000%.

Also the ShopRite in Hoboken is from another dimension compared to Marin's, though that is getting better. 99 Ranch is excellent for Chinese/Korean/Japanese/some Euro fare plus some branded things are very cheap there. Morton Williams is expensive, and I only ever get bread and some fancy things at Key Foods om Jersey but never ever their fruit, veg and milk.

Get most of my branded groceries from Acme in Newport though. Staff are nice too, and if you're missing anything, Target is the other side.

You can only shop at Whole Foods if you're from the year 2375.

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sugarfu t1_j2ts742 wrote

The upside of having a car is going to Mitsuwa whenever I want. 99 Ranch is a godsend.

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Jahooodie t1_j2tuqy6 wrote

Couldn't that also be a downside? Those Mochi doughnuts, dangerous

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sugarfu t1_j2tvhhb wrote

Actually it's the onigiri that I can't resist. And the takoyaki kiosk.

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Jahooodie t1_j2twnf3 wrote

While I still mourn the loss of Italian Tomato, that onigiri place that took it's stall is fire

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sugarfu t1_j2uch0o wrote

I miss the previous bakery. The new one is OK.

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Yr9012 t1_j2unsk1 wrote

Is there still a line at Mitsuwa these days? Went there a year ago, and the line to enter was 2hr long

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sugarfu t1_j2uo3ix wrote

Go on a weekday, it's never that bad. But yeah, it's pretty crazy on the weekends and the week before New Years is chaos.

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theulfberhtsword t1_j2teclg wrote

All of Newark Ave for produce. I honestly think Morton Williams in JC, Whole Foods in Weehawken, Trader Joes in Hoboken, and Lidi in Bayonne are the closest you’ll get to highest quality with a “one stop shop”. Target typically has the cheapest eggs.

But to answer the question I think you’re having, Hoboken ShopRite gives you the best ratio of price, variety, and availability.

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jfrankparnell85 t1_j2v84w0 wrote

I always preferred the Columbia Park (North Bergen) Shop Rite to the Hoboken one. Trader Joe’s is great - as is Lidl

I lived in the Cambridge/Somerville area, and was never a fan of Market Basket or Star Market

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keepseeing444 t1_j2sxtme wrote

Costco in Bayonne, Shoprite in Hoboken, Super H mart in Ridgefield, Food Bazaar in North Bergen.

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ashlandbus t1_j2sz7r1 wrote

I'd add the Lidl in Bayonne, as well. Some solid deals there on quality food. They are hit and miss on the produce, and have their own brand for a lot of things with mixed results. I like to augment the trip to costco, as they are right next to each other.

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mikevago t1_j2vf0vq wrote

Here's my ranking:

Garden of Eden (Hoboken)
King's (Hoboken)
Trader Joe's (Hoboken)
99 Ranch (Grand St.)
Shop Rite (Hoboken)
Acme (Marin Blvd.)
Morton Williams (River Dr., pricey but good)
Stop & Shop (Central Ave.)
Supremo (Palisade Ave.)
Hudson Greene Market (Hudson St., pricey, small selection)
Target
Pioneer (MLK)
Asian Food (440)
Central Square (Bergen Ave.)
Key Food (Jersey Ave.)
Acme (440)
Bravo (West Side Ave.)
D-Mart (JFK, perfectly fine, just small selection)
La Conga (bodega, Grove St.)
Shop Rite From Hell (Marin Blvd.)
Any other bodega
Week-old leftovers from the back of your fridge
The dumpster behind Trader Joe's
C-Town (West Side Ave.)

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will0w27 t1_j2wjz8e wrote

The stop & shop on central is absolutely awful. It’s never fully stocked and they have limited options and it’s super over priced. If you already in the heights you might as well go to the shop rite in north Bergen. It’s larger than the Hoboken shop rite and easier to navigate.

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mikevago t1_j2wr8b7 wrote

I guess I have some affection for Stop and Shop because when I lived in the neighborhood, it was that or the C-Town on Central, which was far and away worse than any of these other options. Probably should have gone to North Bergen! I often used to take the elevator down to the Hoboken Shop Rite.

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prezzyplainjane27 t1_j2wwxz4 wrote

That C-town though 😒 unfortunately it’s walking distance from me so I’ll go pick something up if I’m really in a pinch but I try to avoid it as much as possible!

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mikevago t1_j2xdj84 wrote

Same. I'd never get meat there, but I'm only a few blocks away, so it's unavoidable sometimes.

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HobokenJ t1_j32cuya wrote

Nice list, though I'd drop Supremo and Stop and Shop waaaaay down. Both are gross nightmares

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Brudesandwich t1_j2t0nnm wrote

Personally, Food Bazaar on 14th and Kennedy

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orb_king t1_j2uiwz9 wrote

If you are used to affordable AND high quality grocery stores, you’re gonna have to get used to picking NEITHER in Jersey City. All our groceries are absolute garbage and overpriced. :(

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j2v145h wrote

I occasionally treat myself to Wegmans shopping spree if I'm planning to be in a neighborhood with one, or driving through one on my way home.

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halocene_epic t1_j2t7i03 wrote

Whole Foods in Weehawken is the highest quality. Stop & Shop in Bayonne and ShopRite in Hoboken are second runners up and cheaper.

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tamerlein3 t1_j2tdezk wrote

I, too, miss market basket

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driftwoodnyc t1_j2v7kxu wrote

Acme on 440 near Society Hill is our go-to

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kjrst9 t1_j2xekys wrote

Desperately hoping that the new Marin ShopRite will be better than existing. I tell myself that they aren't improving it or expanding brands because it's lifespan is short. And what's with the no more hand baskets?

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PICHICONCACA t1_j2xn036 wrote

The farmers market is not what you think. Just be aware.

I personally just shop at the market on route 17 or the one behind the old sears .

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Alert-Ad4070 OP t1_j2xn9o2 wrote

What’s wrong with the farmers market?

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PICHICONCACA t1_j2z0bbo wrote

Most farmers markets don’t get produce that actually comes from a farm. It comes from a wholesale grocer.

Don’t believe everything you see is actually organic and produced locally.

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Alert-Ad4070 OP t1_j2z48cl wrote

I used to work in food systems so I’m familiar with that; I mostly go to get the added value/processed stuff like bread.

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kevstev t1_j341x9q wrote

Yeah I actually took a look at Stony Hill Farms pie ingredients, I am not sure where I can get a monoglyceride plant, but I am interested to know how well they grow in NJ.

Its all kind of a scam really- I treat it like a slightly more expensive foodstore that happens to set up shop down the block from me, but there is nothing better about their stuff at all IMHO. This past fall I was really disappointed in their apples- Shoprite's Honey Crisps were better, and Shoprite's produce is typically one of their weak spots.

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aa043 t1_j32l7ul wrote

Trader Joe and Aldi (German family owned), Whole Foods (Amazon owned), Shop and Stop(Dutch owned). Many ShopRites and Acmes in the area owned by US companies.

Hoboken has better stores. Korean stores around Fort Lee are interesting.

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gayifer t1_j5xal6m wrote

If you have easy access to the path, the trader joes in Chelsea is super convenient. It's about a 2 minute walk away from the 23rd street stop. It's always crowded but they always have so many people working the registers so the line goes quick.

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ceeyell t1_j2tnq6k wrote

Fresh Direct or Whole Foods in Weehawken

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Alert-Ad4070 OP t1_j2uea3t wrote

Is this a joke 👀 I said affordable.

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ceeyell t1_j2uls7t wrote

There is “affordable” and there is “high quality” in the vicinity of JC but you have to choose one, both don’t exist.

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will0w27 t1_j2wkbmx wrote

Bet bet is to buy everything but produce at one of the suggested supermarkets and get your produce at a fruit stand if you want to be cost effective. Think 6 limes for $2 vs. $5+ at the supermarket.

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ceeyell t1_j2wmua0 wrote

Hate to say it but all of the produce I’ve ever bought in JC at those little outdoor stands (not farmer’s markets, the small partially outdoor markets that are common in the McGinley Sq area) is either already bad on the shelf or goes bad within 2 days of buying it or the taste is awful. It’s not saving money if you have to re-purchase the same stuff twice in the same week because the quality is so bad. Same goes for Central Square in JSQ. After 2+ years of crappy wilted lettuce and soft onions, I gave up entirely on buying produce in this area outside of the farmer’s market.

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will0w27 t1_j2zq7q9 wrote

Fair the mcginley sq markets are just gross. I found one in the heights that is pretty good. I wouldn’t buy strawberries there, but it’s cost effective for most produce that had a longer shelf life (green onions, garlic, bananas, oranges, potatoes, apples, etc.)

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Supablue24 t1_j2t7iit wrote

The bodega down the street.

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